Stringing beads together is an art that mankind has known since ancient times and that has been carried out for many reasons such as symbolizing religious beliefs. Back in the ancient world tribes used the bones of wild animals and would string them onto fibers and would then wear them for protection believing that they would be safe from bad spirits.



As civilization became more advanced man would learn how to drill and pierce holes in objects and this led to great progress in beading. Necklaces were created out of many objects such as seed pods, seashells and nut shells as well as many other objects. Bead development would eventually progress with the coloring of beads. Clay beads would often be coated in enamel

The Egyptians were masters of glass making and they would revolutionize bead making as glass beads were far more beautiful and could be used to make the most wonderful necklaces. They would use glass of many different colors and combine these colored glass beads with precious and semi-precious gemstones. Silver and gold would also be added.

Beads would become in great demand and would become a valuable trading commodity and were traded and exported all around the world, even as far back as ancient times. Beading would be embraced by many different cultures including the Babylonians, Chinese and also in ancient India.

The Romans also had a great influence on the development of beading and they would trade beads all over the different parts of the Roman Empire. This influence would spread to to the Vikings and the Celts who would develop wonderful amulets, necklaces and bracelets. Beading would also be embraced by the Native American Indians whose works are still used today in the latest fashions such as in turquoise colored watch bands, necklaces and belts.

Beading was and still is an integral part of Native American culture. Many Indian tribes in the Americas would train their womenfolk at becoming adept in the beading arts. A technique called bead quilling was considered sacred. The workmanship and art of bead quilling was considered sacred and not the finished beaded items themselves. That is rather different to the norm in Western societies where the finished product is what is valued most and not the workmanship that created it.